Stimwave user here: What's been your experience?

Posted by donw @donw200, Aug 20, 2019

Like most of us, I did not want a battery implant so I went with Stimwave scs. Its been permanently placed on my spine about 10 days ago. I do feel a little less pain, but my right foot nerve pain still prevents me from sleeping normal hours, preparing home meals and doing normal tasks. I am disappointed. I was hoping for more relief. My worst pain bursts went from 10 to 9. Plus, I still need pain pills.

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@donw200 I'm not an expert, but I do have a stimulator. Have you talked to your doctor about this? Unfortunately, too many doctors don't get the full disclosure thing. I didn't get pain relief until around six weeks. I thought it would be the same as the trial experience, but I couldn't do much on my feet for several weeks.

Patience is not something we enjoy. Have you ever seen a pain therapist? I did last year and came away with some helpful things, one being - focus on the pain and analyze its components. That seems counter intuitive, but it often reduces the level of my pain. I think about the area around the pain. I think about some part of me that's feeling good. My pain is a burning, tingling, sharp pain in my feet, so I break it down into the aspects of the pain. Acknowledge the tingling and find out exactly where it is. You get the idea. Maybe it would be helpful to talk with a pain therapist, someone your doctor has had experience with, whom they would recommend.

Hang on. Try to find a position of comfort. Don't listen to people who are clueless about chronic pain but think they're an expert. I know it's a worn out phrase, but accept the fact that some things take time, and the road is no fun.

I'll be watching for your progress reports.

Jim

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Take it one day at a time. Make the the best of the time when you are feeling ‘ok’. Good luck and realize that you are not alone in this journey to find pain relief.

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@jimhd

@donw200 I'm not an expert, but I do have a stimulator. Have you talked to your doctor about this? Unfortunately, too many doctors don't get the full disclosure thing. I didn't get pain relief until around six weeks. I thought it would be the same as the trial experience, but I couldn't do much on my feet for several weeks.

Patience is not something we enjoy. Have you ever seen a pain therapist? I did last year and came away with some helpful things, one being - focus on the pain and analyze its components. That seems counter intuitive, but it often reduces the level of my pain. I think about the area around the pain. I think about some part of me that's feeling good. My pain is a burning, tingling, sharp pain in my feet, so I break it down into the aspects of the pain. Acknowledge the tingling and find out exactly where it is. You get the idea. Maybe it would be helpful to talk with a pain therapist, someone your doctor has had experience with, whom they would recommend.

Hang on. Try to find a position of comfort. Don't listen to people who are clueless about chronic pain but think they're an expert. I know it's a worn out phrase, but accept the fact that some things take time, and the road is no fun.

I'll be watching for your progress reports.

Jim

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@jimhd, Thank you for that introduction to pain management. I have not been there yet, in part because I have yoga, meditation and mindfulness daily practice. I have been taught to welcome the pain and then learn from it. You focus on your pain and then analyze it. Pretty close....these mind/ body approaches.

I make the intent of my practice, some relief from pain. And you get another star for reminding us that it takes time. It took lots of time, even with Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) before I could walk a mile again.

Enjoy the evening. Chris

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thank you-- and I will be more patient.

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Hi Don, I am Lori, and I have really bad peripheral neuropathy in my feet. I have tried so many things to help me, that it is crazy. However, I have never heard of that Stim Wave. What is it, and what kind of doctor puts it on your body? Also, one of the only things that helps me, is Kratom. If you want to know about this leaf, let me know. It does help pain. Lori Renee

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@lorirenee1

Hi Don, I am Lori, and I have really bad peripheral neuropathy in my feet. I have tried so many things to help me, that it is crazy. However, I have never heard of that Stim Wave. What is it, and what kind of doctor puts it on your body? Also, one of the only things that helps me, is Kratom. If you want to know about this leaf, let me know. It does help pain. Lori Renee

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Hi, @lorirenee1 - I can imagine that having bad pain in your feet and trying so many things to help you without success must indeed be crazy. I am glad to hear you are finding some measure of relief. Just wanted to point out this FDA warning on kratom, however, so members can be aware https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom.

lorirenee - what treatments have you tried that were not fruitful for your pain?

@donw200 - if you could tell a bit more about the wireless spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation you went through, as lorirenee requested, that would be great.

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@lisalucier

Hi, @lorirenee1 - I can imagine that having bad pain in your feet and trying so many things to help you without success must indeed be crazy. I am glad to hear you are finding some measure of relief. Just wanted to point out this FDA warning on kratom, however, so members can be aware https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom.

lorirenee - what treatments have you tried that were not fruitful for your pain?

@donw200 - if you could tell a bit more about the wireless spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation you went through, as lorirenee requested, that would be great.

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Hi Lisa, Thanks for the Kratom info. I have read piles of information about it, and I am very careful. I think it works better than many things, so it is good for me. I also think CBD oil and salve is very helpful. I did Scrambler therapy, and it worked very well, but only for about three weeks. I tried it again, and it worked for about two weeks. Physical therapy did nothing. Acupuncture did nothing. Gabapentin and Duloxetine do little. Lidocaine patches, prescription strength, help at times, and then not. I bought a three hundred dollar compounding cream, which did nothing. Frankincense and Myrr, for Neuropathy, bought on amazon, does help. Water spa is soothing. Just ordered foot massager from Amazon. Waiting for it. This illness is ungodly. LoriRenee

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@lorirenee1

Hi Lisa, Thanks for the Kratom info. I have read piles of information about it, and I am very careful. I think it works better than many things, so it is good for me. I also think CBD oil and salve is very helpful. I did Scrambler therapy, and it worked very well, but only for about three weeks. I tried it again, and it worked for about two weeks. Physical therapy did nothing. Acupuncture did nothing. Gabapentin and Duloxetine do little. Lidocaine patches, prescription strength, help at times, and then not. I bought a three hundred dollar compounding cream, which did nothing. Frankincense and Myrr, for Neuropathy, bought on amazon, does help. Water spa is soothing. Just ordered foot massager from Amazon. Waiting for it. This illness is ungodly. LoriRenee

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Thank you for taking the time to explain what did not work for you, @lorirenee1, as well as what has provided some relief. I know many members here are looking into a variety of therapies to try and help with neuropathy symptoms.

Some others who may be interested in reading what you wrote about what did and didn't work for your neuropathy symptoms include @lynnaustin @johnbishop @helennicola @sherryw @notborntoburn @rwinney @jimbotch @vradifegari. They may have some comments on their own experiences with these or other treatments, including the wireless spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation @donw200 talked about.

What have you found has the longest relieving effect, lorirenee1? What effect did you find the frankincense and myrrh had? Does the water spa help more with burning, pain, tingling?

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Stimwave, stimulators, implants...I have yet to explore any of these options simply because I do not believe any one unit can prevent my pain from head to toe. I understand it working on an isolated area such as the feet or back but not multiple areas throughout the body. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong and can attest as living proof of full body relief.

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@rwinney

Stimwave, stimulators, implants...I have yet to explore any of these options simply because I do not believe any one unit can prevent my pain from head to toe. I understand it working on an isolated area such as the feet or back but not multiple areas throughout the body. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong and can attest as living proof of full body relief.

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Also, I'm so frustrated because I want to try cbd creams and such but honestly, I'd go broke needing so much coverage. Can anyone relate?

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